To date, the partnership has removed 314,449 pounds of trash and 4,190 tires. A special thanks goes to Waste Management, Inc., and Bridgestone/Firestone who provided free or at reduced rate for the cost of the disposal of the trash and tires.

As a means of deterring subsequent dumping, surveillance signs and high-tech surveillance cameras have been erected at previously cleaned sites as well as random sites throughout the County.

The high-tech cameras are capable of capturing license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions in day or night. All evidence gathered from these cameras has been used to prosecute individuals to the fullest extent of the law.

The cameras have proved successful, as was the case earlier this year when Stephen Edward Garrity (6/27/1993) and Dylan James Huseman (11/28/1991) were captured by surveillance cameras illegally dumping furniture and other refuse from the back of a pick-up truck. The offenders were fined and charged with cleaning up the site.

In 2014, Robert Semulka (9/9/1967) from Washington, PA plead guilty and was fined $3172 for illegally dumping trash at three locations in Canton Township.

“We are grateful for our partnership with the Washington County Court System and this valuable program. Illegal dumping in not only detrimental to the environment but also incurs costs for local municipalities for time and resources to clean these sites up, said Shannon Reiter, President of Keep PA Beautiful. “Our collective goal is a clean and beautiful Washington County.”

Questions regarding proper disposal of waste and recycling in Washington County can be answered by Jason Theakston, Recycling Coordinator, Washington County Planning Commission, at 724-228-6811, or by sending email to: theakstj@co.washington.pa.us.

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About Me

This Blog is a companion to www.PaEnvironmentDigest.com, the weekly online newsletter published by Crisci Associates, Harrisburg, PA.
I can be contacted at 717-576-0420 or by sending email to: DHess@CrisciAssociates.com.
I served as Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection from 2001 to 2003, Executive Deputy at DEP from 1995 to 2001, as staff to the PA Senate Environmental Committee and various positions in the former Department of Environmental Resources, working on environmental issues for nearly 40 years.